Children's services at the council found responsible for failing to protect murdered four-year-old Daniel Pelka, has been deemed 'inadequate' by Ofsted.
A report found that children's services at Coventry City Council were 'inadequate' overall following a three-week inspection earlier this year. It also said caselaods for social workers were too high, following a 46% increase in workloads over the last two years.
Cllr George Duggins, the council's cabinet member for children and young people, said since the inspection, an additional £5.6m is being invested in children's services to deal with the increase of referrals. Coventry has also become the first local authority to voluntarily create an improvement board in the service.
He vowed there would be a 'rapid improvement' following the inspection.
He said: 'There is no hiding from the fact that the report’s overall findings are disappointing but many of the problems we face, particularly in the front line of children social care, is down to the fact of the unprecedented volume of work which continues to increase.
'As the Ofsted report reflects, the findings are not a verdict on the staff who are working extremely hard in the face of ever increasing workloads and their passion, commitment and dedication cannot be questioned.
'We have already responded to this challenge by adding another team of social workers and we have funding to add more as part of the additional £5.6 million because as a council safeguarding is one our highest priorities.'
